Removable burner cans



Aug. 6, 1957 A. l. HIGHBERG REMOVABLE BURNER CANS 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Aug. 5. 1954 Aug. 6, 1957 A. L. HIGHBERG 2,803,520

REMOVABLE BURNER CANS Filed Aug. 5, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheat 2 REMOVABLE BURNER CANS Axel L. Highberg, West Hartford, Conn., assignor to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force Application August 5,1954-, Serial No. 448,166

8'Claims. (Cl. 60G-39.69)

This invention. relates: to. tunb'o-jet power plant propulsion devices or power plants, primarily for aircraft, and, more particularly to arrl arrangement for removably connecting the combustion or burnerY can members of an annular series thereof to theV transition pieces or member to the combustion chamber outlet,I in which any burner can member can b e removed radially out of the power plant withouti disturbingrthe other burner can members.

Another object ofi the inventionk is the provision of means whereby the transition pieces`l or combustion' discharge cones of a combustion chamber gas turbine or turbo-jet engine are eachv interlocked at their front end to the rear end of oneof the burner can members insuch a manner that slight rearward disposition of any of the burner can members, when released at its forward end, will disengage the interlock, after which the burner can member can be movedy radially outward, relativev to the central axis of the turbine powerpl'ant, to dispose the interlocking connections out of interlockingy alignment, to permit removal of any burner can'without disturbingthe rear transition piece or conemember orany of the other burner can members, also providing means whereby new burner cans arev easily, inserted by first disposing the burner can and transition piece complemental rebent flangeV interlocks-in' position. for engagement bythe in sertion-of the'rear endl of the burner can portion, which is formed with-an--outer semi-circular locking angefacing rearwardly, into the transition piece, with a rebent flange in rear of a similar semicircular complemental rebent inner flange onl the interior of the forward end ofv the transition piece, then slidingthe burner can forwardly to bring the complemental' rebent semicircular flanges into interlocked relation, and securing the burner can member at its forward end in interlocked relation against rearward movement to maintain the burner can member and transition piece in interlocked relation duringthe operation of the power plant device;

Other objects and advantages of the invention. will become apparent from the following descriptiony and accompanying drawing in which like reference characters refer to like partsin the several gures.

Figure 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic radial longitudinal sectional View through a turbo-jet or gas turbine propulsion power plant for aircraft, parts being broken away and shown in section and foreshortened for convenience, only one combustion chamber and burner can member being shown-- for simplification, although the turbine includes an annular combustion chamber and transition pieces spaced therein around the. longitudinal central axis of the turbine.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken about on line 2;-2 of Figure l, illustrating the spacer flanges for securing the forward end of the burner tube spaced within vthe combustion chamber inner and outer castings.

Figure 3 is an enlarged radial section through the rear end of the burner can member and transition piece or conc member taken through the cooperating complemental interlocking` semi-circular rebent flanges on the forward end of the transition cone member burnerI and the rear end of the burner can member.

Figure 4 is a vertical section taken approximately on line 4-4 in Figure l, looking in the direction of thel arrows.

Referring to, Figure 1, the reference numeral 1 de- .notes an annular combustion chamber generally of a turbo-jet or gas turbine propulsion power plant, parts not pertinent to the invention being broken away for simplicity or omitted in illustrating and describing the invention. The outer combustion chamber shell or cylinder 3 is flanged at its forward and rear end at 4 and 5 respectively.

The burner can indicated at 6 generally comprises a head portion 7 having ahollow cylindrical tubular centerv portion S extending axially through the burner can member' 6 toward a` transition piece combustion discharge cone member 9which issecured at its rear e'nd at 10't'o a shell 11 which is xed iny relation. l

The burner can forward' end or head portion 7 is provided'with conventional fuel supply nozzle openings' and the fueldelivery me'ans112a which are connected to a header 12 in the' usualconventional manner, not forming a part of the invention;

Secured to theexterior of the frontend 7 ofthe burner can dis a bracketmem'ber' 135 (shown in detailin Figure 2)' having' abutment flanges 14 adapted to' be seated againstrthean'ge portion24- oflth'eouter' shell 3 as shown, and held inIplace-againstforward movementby the-flange' 15 of the housing or closur'ecasin'g' 15" whichis attached to' the` compressor` casing: (fn'o't shown).

Thelbu'rnerfcanrmentber' 6r i'slm'adeup fromga series of tapered annular rir'rgsor-` sleeves 6a, 6b',Y 6c, 6dito 6f and 6g, securely Connectedf together andV providedV withVY the usual vent air inlet' apertures or openings. 6k, establishing communication'betweenthe annular space between the casing 3I and'zthe: inner shell'3iz in the conventional manner;

The' lastlor rearmo'stsle'eve or ringv 161 of' theY burner can member is secured'to the rear.` end of the tapered sleeve or ring section16g,.and is of unconventional con struction, being formedat its rear Vend with a substantially semi-circular; rebent on itself; outer flange 17 facing forwardly, extending around the radially outward half of the ring 16, .with refrence'ito the longitudinal axis X of the turbo-jet"powerplant.` Atthe opposite-ends ofthe semi-circular flange 17 the other or outer half of the burnercan; sleeve 16 projects longitudinally rearward to formV am extension 1S rearwardly ofV thel ends of the flanged portion,t.FigureV l. Thefforward end of the tran'- sition piece or'cone 9is also unconventional, in that the inner half of its circumferences, with respect tothe central longitudinal axis X of the power plant; is formedr with an inwardly extending rebent substantially semi-circular flange 20 opening rearwardly, the fiange'Zt'being com-l plementalto the flange 17v to provide a positive interlock through the two flanges 17 and 20'between the transition piece and the burner'can member during the operation of the powerplant to resist relative forward movement of theburner canV member 6 relative to the transition cone 9.

The opposite ends of the extension 18 may be flanged outwardly (radially) at the opposite extremities of its rebent semi-circular flange 17 to provide substantially opposite narrow radial flanges 21.

The outer half of the transition piece 9, relative to the longitudinal axis X of the power plant, is cut away circumferentially between the rear ends of its ange 20 as indicated at 22, and the outerend portion or extension 18 of the burner can 6A is disposed in overlapping engagement with the outer surface portion of the transition piece 9' adjacent-cutaway portion 22, this overlap being indicated at 23 when the flanges 17 and 20 are fully inter-engaged as shown in Figure 1, this overlap 23 increasing as the burner can 6 is ymoved rearwardly to effect disengagement of the rebent complemental flanges 17 and 2t).

The transition piece or cone 9 is formed With a semicircular enlarged portion 24 located readwardly of its rebent flange to permit the rearwardly shifting of the burner can 'for the disengagement of the complemental flanges 17 and 26, after which the burner can 6 can be removed laterally (radially outward relative to the central axis X of the power plant). Since the rebent flange 17 is now out of engagement with the complemental rebent flange 20 on the transition piece the burner can 6 is removable radially of the power plant without disturbing the other burner cans. The outer casing or shell 3 must however be removed axially rearward to permit the lateral removal or the burner cans 6 as indicated for repairs or replacement.

It should be noted that the flange 14 on the supporting bracket 13 together with the header 12 support the head of the burner can 6 in proper alignment with the transition piece and the flange 14 preventing rearward movement of the burner can tending to disengage the interlocking flanges 17 and 20, when the outer casing 3 is secured in position with its flange 4 in rear of the flange 14.

The dotted lines in Figure 1 show the outer combustion chamber shell 3 partly removed to release the flange 14. After the shell 3 is fully removed the burner can 6 can be shifted rearwardly to disengage the interlocking flanges 17 and 20 and radially removed easily and conveniently without disturbing any of the other cans or the inner wall 3a of the combustion chamber. The can is replaceable by a reversal of the aforesaid process. The replacement can is inserted radially toward the central axis to dispose the semicircular flange 17 inside of and rearwardly of the semicircular flange 20 with the rear semicircular extension 18 overlapping the exterior surface of the outer half of the transition piece 9, with the semicircular complemental flanges 17 and 21 in alignment for interlocking engagement. Pulling the burner can axially forward causes the rebent complemental flanges to interengage as shown in Figure 3, thus limiting further forward movement of the burner can 6 in the transition piece or cone 9, with the unanged semicircular portions 18 and 22 of the can 6 and cone 9 in overlappedrelation as indicated at 23, the ange 14 of supporting bracket 13 being in position to yabut the shoulder or flange 15. When the outer sleeve or wall of the combustion chamber 3 is replaced and bolted fast the flange 4 thereof engages the flange 15, securing the burner can. The header or nozzle assembly 12 is securely mounted on the part 15', which is in turn attached to the compressor casing,

When the burner can 6 is moved rearwardly for disengagement and removal, the nozzles 12a are therefore withdrawn from suitable openings therefor in the head 7. In the replacement of the burner cans, the nozzles 12a of the header 12 are slipped into the nozzle openings in the burner can heads 7 as the burner cans are moved forwardly to establish the interlocks.

While the foregoing description and accompanying drawing show and describe one embodiment of the invention, it is understood that minor changes in the details of construction, combination, and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

It is claimed that:

l. In a turbojet gas turbine power plant, an annular combustion chamber therein surrounding the longitudinal axis of the power plant, transition combustion discharge cone members fixed to said chamber, each having a discharge opening at its rear end, said cone members each having an annular forward end rebent inwardly and then rearwardly on itself throughout substantially one-half the periphery of said forward end to provide an internal rebent semicircular burner can complementary interlocking flange thereon facing rearwardly, a burner can member positioned within said chamber in spaced relation to the inner wall thereof, having a rebent flange at the rear end extending outwardly and forwardly throughout substantially one-half the outer surface of the rear end of the burner can to form a complemental interlocking rebent flange for the aforesaid semicircular rebent flange facing forwardly, for interlocking engagement with the said semicircular rearwardly facing rebent flange, said burner can having a semicircular extension projecting rearwardly between the opposite ends of the semicircular flange thereon in juxtaposed overlapping relation to the outer surface of the front end of the transition cone member between the opposite ends of the semicircular flange thereon throughout substantially half of the periphery Y thereof, whereby rearward movement of the burner can disengages the semicircular complemental rebent flanges from each other, whereby the burner c-an is displaceable radially from the power plant without disturbing any of the other burner cans.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which the burner can is provided with a closed forward end, a supporting bracket projecting outwardly from the said forward end radially of the central axis of the power plant, an abutment adjacent the forward end of the combustion chamber in the path of the rearward axial movement of the burner can, whereby upon removal of said abutment the burner can is then free to be moved rearwardly to disengage the aforesaid complemental interengaging semicircular rebent flanges from each other, to free the burner can from interengagement with the cone member for lateral removal from the combustion chamber.

3. In a gas turbine power plant having a central axis, a combustion chamber therefor located at one side of said axis, a combustion discharge cone member fixed in said chamber at the rear end thereof, having a combustion discharge opening at its rear end, said cone member diverging forwardly and terminating in an annular forward end, rebent rearwardly on itself throughout substantially half of said forward end to provide a rebent on itself burner can interlocking flange facing rearwardly, a burner can positioned within said chamber in spaced relation to the inner surface thereof, said burner can having an annular rear end portion substantially conforming to the size and shape of the forward end of said cone member, a rebent on itself complemental interlocking flange for the aforesaid rebent flange on the exterior of the rear end of the burner can and facing forwardly throughout substantially half of the periphery of the rear end of the said burner can, said last mentioned rebent flange being complemental to the rst mentioned rebent flange and disposed in interengaging alignment thereto and for interlocking engagement therewith to secure said burner can within the combustion chamber against forward movement thereof relative to said cone member, said burner can and cone member having substantially half of their respective rear and forward peripheral portions opposite their respective rebent flanges, and between the opposite ends of the respective rebent complemental flanges, disposed in juxtaposed overlapping relation when the rear end of the burner can is disposed in the forward end of the cone member with said flanges in said alignment.

4. In a turbo-jet gas turbine power plant having a central axis, a combustion chamber therein having a longitudinal axis, a combustion discharge transition cone member fixed at its rear end in said chamber and diverging forwardly, terminating in an annular forward portion, rebent inwardly and rearwardly on itself to form a rebent flange and facing rearwardly around substantially one-half of the interior of the said forward portion, the opposite half of the last mentioned forward portion being cut away between the opposite ends of said internal rebent flange to provide a substantially semicircular nonlanged portion, a burner cam member positioned Within said combustion chamber in spaced relation to the inner surface of said chamber having an annular rear end opening into said cone member, a rebent complemental flange for the aforesaid complemental rebent flange, formed on the interior of the rear end of said can member and facing forwardly for cooperative interlocking engagement with the aforesaid complemental rearwardly facing rebent flange extending around substantially half of said rear surface of the can portion, a semicircular extension projecting rearwardly around substantially the other half of the can member beyond the rebent anges thereon, disposed for juxtaposed overlapping engagement with the outer surface of the cone member adjacent said cutaway portion, throughout substantially the half of the can member opposite the complemental flanges aforementioned on the can and cone members.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 n which the cornplemental rebent flanges on the cone and the can members are disposed around the respective inner and outer surfaces thereof throughout substantially the inner half the peripheries of said surfaces relative to the central axis of the power plant, and the overlapping portions extend substantially around the outer half of the can and cone members, relative to said central axis.

6. Apparatus as claimedrin claim 5 in which the said juxtaposed overlapping portion of the can member extension extends around the outer surface of the cone member adjacent the said cutaway portion, substantially between the opposite ends of the complemental flanges, throughout the half of the annular surfaces of the can and cone members which face away from the central axis of the power plant, whereby the can member is shiftable rearwardly in the cone member to disengage the interengaging complemental rebent flanges and then displaceable outwardly relative to the said central axis of the power plant to displace the anges out of cooperating alignment With each other, for subsequent removal of the can from said combustion chamber in a plane through the said central axis and the longitudinal axis of the combustion chamber.

7. A removable burner can for combustion chambers of gas turbine power plants comprising a transition combustion discharge cone having a discharge opening at its rear end, and diverging outwardly from said opening toward its forward end, terminating in a circular portion adjacent said forward end, a semicircular extension projecting forwardly from substantially one-half of said forward end, a semicircular rebent on itself flange around the inner surface of said semicircular extension and facing rearwardly, a substantially cylindrical burner can, adapted for removable positioning within the combustion chamber, having a closed front end and a rear end opening into the front end of said cone member, said burner can rear end having a cylindrical extremity conforming substantially to the size and shape of the front end of said cone member and said cone member extension, said can member having a complemental semicircular rebent ange around substantially half of the outer surface thereof and opening rearwardly for complemental interlocking engagement with the semicircular rebent outer flange on the cone member extension, said can member having a semicircular cutaway portion between the opposite ends of the rebent interlocking complemental flange thereon, with the inner surface thereof adjacent said cutaway portion, disposed in juxtaposed overlapping relation to the exterior surface of the said semicylindrical end portion of said cone member opposite said semicylindrical extension thereon, whereby the rear end of said can member is insertable laterally into the front end of the cone member to dispose the complemental rebent semicircular anges in alignment for interlocking engagement, with the interior of the rear end of the semicircular portion of the can member extension, in juxtaposed overlapping relation to the exterior surface of the cone member adjacent the cutaway portion thereof, whereby subsequent movement of the can member forwardly disposes the semicircular rebent complemental anges in interlocking engagement to prevent further forward movement of the can member relative to the cone member.

8. In a removable burner can construction for turbojet engine power plants having a combustion chamber, a transition cone member xed relative to said chamber having a discharge opening at its rear end and flaring forwardly, terminating in a cylindrical forward end portion, a removable burner can member for said chamber having a cylindrical rear end portion discharging into said cone member, said burner can member and cone member cylindrical portions having complemental nterengaging semicircular flanges thereon for interlocking engagement with each other in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the burner can member and located between the burner can and cone members adjacent the respective cylindrical rear and forward end portions thereof, extending around substantially one-half of the circumference of said portions with the other half of the circumference of said portions non-anged and disposed in juxtaposed overlapping relation, with the inner surface of the can member overlapping the outer surface of the cone member throughout the non-flange portion.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 792,085 Stuttle June 13, 1905 2,591,399 Buckland et al. Apr. l, 1952 2,699,040 Gaubatz Ian. 11, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 17,387 Great Britain Dec. 11, 1915 

